Spirit and love. The opening hymn is sung to Down Ampney and so brings a resonance of Come down, O love divine. The reading speak of the gift of the spirit and as we had a baptism this seemed an appropriate choice. The images in the final hymn were also linked with baptism.

The choir parts in the Gathering Mass are more akin, I think, to instrumental parts in that they do not support the melody but add a further dimension. It also means that we leave the congregation to 'get on with' their own part unsupported by the choir - which they seem manage quite happily.

Vulpius — the hymn tune of the final hymn seems to me one of those hymns sung differently across the denominational divide: Alleluia - first bar 3 crotchets or minim-crotchet. I prefer the 3 crotchets as it gives it more of a rhythmic kick.

As alternative to our opening hymn we looked at Herbert/Vaughan Williams Come my way, my truth, my life but it was felt that the congregation would not know it. Actually it has a similar status to what we sang - something that has previously been a choir piece but has not necessarily sung by the congregation. One of the nice aspects as the David Haas piece is it's simple harmony which sounds as though it was originally improvised.

Bernadette Farrell's piece Let nothing trouble you though it was originally written for the dedication of a church could have been written for this Sunday as it picked up themes from both gospel and 2nd reading - actually the text skilfully weaves many scripture texts and images. The 2nd reading was also the source of the final hymn an occasion where we sang consubstantial without any seeming trouble.

The Penitential Act was new and was based on Kyrie Lux et origo which is for Eastertide. As we have some more baptisms in the coming weeks I am not sure how often it will be used.

Easter is a time of paradox: the Lord is both shepherd and lamb - the lamb upon his throne and the shepherd king.

Other choices were derived from psalm 22. Both the responsorial psalm and Marty Haugen's version we had sung on the 4th Sunday of Lent. Bob Hurd's A listening heart has verses for a cantor from psalm 22 while the refrain with its invitation to follow God's voice was appropriate for the Day of Prayer for Vocations.

Another baptism and the choices divided neatly between baptism and Emmaus - I could not think of anything that bound the two closely together. The first reading and psalm had baptismal elements - and it is why I thought it important to use the response in the Lectionary rather than just repeat the psalm setting from the Vigil. No longer I is a setting that we used to sing on Easter Sunday as a simple reflection. I once used it with a group of Franciscan sisters and it spoke directly to their spirituality. On Sunday it was intended a response for all the baptised. I may have 'missed a meeting' but I have never fully understood the connection between O praise ye the Lord and baptism. Yes, there is 'sons of new birth' and it is a hymn of praise but I presume there is something obvious I am missing. So with this weak connection and also as a hymn I thought would be known by those who were not regulars it was our final hymn.

I always think the last line of the opening hymn should be 'we will never walk alone'. Now I can see why it isn't but the internal logic of the text suggests it. It is a good hymn for Easter Evening Prayer; in the morning the darkness has to become metaphorical - it is a fine text. We sing it to Hyfrydol - it would good to use the suggested US tune in Laudate at some point.

A Sunday with a rich variety of themes - and as I listened to the readings even more were apparent. We went with Thomas. I am not sure if the language of 'Put you hand here, Thomas' is not a little direct but it suited out low week forces this morning. We divided the hymn into two parts singing verses 4-7 which tell of Thomas' encounter with Jesus at the beginning and then verses 8-9 at the end which rounded of the celebration nicely - Blessed are those who believe. Using the same hymn at beginning and end had a certain simplicity and we also had to be finished promptly as the local parish was borrowing the chapel for their First Holy Communions afterwards.

One in Body not only was an echo of the Vigil but also picked up on the reading from Acts.